Mono-fin with flexible boot structures

ABSTRACT

A mono-fin for swim training is disclosed. The mono-fin has two separated boot structures that from two separate foot cavities for holding feet with toes positioned in front regions of each of the boot structures and heels positioned at back regions of each of the boot structures. The mono-fin has a mono-fin structure connecting the boot structure through the front regions of each of the boot structures. In a middle region of the mono-fin structure and between the front regions of the boot structures, there is flex region. The flex region allows angles between the boot structures and distances between the back regions of the boot structures to be changed by a swimmer while swim training.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from theco-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/494,465,filed on Aug. 10, 2016, and titled “MONO-FIN WITH FLEXIBLE BOOTSTRUCTURES.” The provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/494,465,filed on Aug. 10, 2016, and titled “MONO-FIN WITH FLEXIBLE BOOTSTRUCTURES” is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mono-fins used in water relatedactivities including swimming training, snorkeling and scuba diving.

BACKGROUND ON INVENTION

Swim fins, fins or flippers are fin-like accessories worn on the foot orleg and made from rubber, plastic or combinations of these materials, toaid movement through the water in water sports activities such asswimming, body-boarding, body-surfing, knee-boarding, river-boarding,underwater hockey, underwater rugby, snorkeling and scuba diving.

Swimfins help the wearer to move through water more efficiently, ashuman feet are too small and inappropriately shaped to provide muchthrust, especially when the wearer is carrying equipment that increaseshydrodynamic drag. Very long fins and mono-fins provide underwaterpropulsion and do not require high frequency leg movement. This improvesefficiency and helps to minimize oxygen consumption. Short, stiff-bladedfins are effective for short bursts of acceleration and maneuvering.

Swim training fins have unique properties to help enforce or trainswimmers to kick more efficiently and/or exercise targeted muscle groupsto improve endurance and swim techniques. One such swim fin is commonlyreferred to as a mono-fin. A mono-fin has one or two boot structuresthat secure to both feet of a swimmer and allows the swimmer tosimultaneously kick with both legs through a kick stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mon-fin for swim training. Themono-fin of the present invention has two boot structures for insertingfeet. The two boot structures have strap features that are permanentlyattached to the boot structures or have release features, such asbuckles, clips, snaps and the like. With the strap features in a closedposition, the boot structures and the strap features form cavities forholding swimmer's feet. Both of the boot structures are coupled to amono-fin structure at front portions of the each of the boot structures.The mono-fin structure has a flex region positioned in front of andbetween the front portions of each of the boot structures. The flexregion allows the angle between the boot structures and the distancebetween back portions of the boot structures to be changed while swimtraining. The flex region can be a living hinge, an elastic stretchregion and/or include swivel features, such as pins attached throughplates and the like.

In accordance with a preferred embedment of the invention the mon-fin ismonolithic with the boot structures, the strap features, the mono-finstructure and the flex region being formed from molded polymericmaterial such as rubber or silicon. The mono-fin structure preferablyhas a dual protrusion structure with one protrusion feature positionednear a front portion of each boot structures and a valley or V-shapedindentation positioned in front of the flex region.

In operation a swimmer places his or her feet into the boot cavities andthe swimmer can then practice kick strokes with both legs simultaneouslywhile changing the angle between the boot structures (his or her feet)and the distance between back portions of the boot structures and strapfeatures (his or her foot heals).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIGS. 1A-C show views of a mono-fin for swim training with a flex regionfor changing angles between boot structures and distances between backregions of the boot structures, in accordance with the embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a monolithic mono-fin for swimtraining, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is directed to a mono-fin 100 with movable oradjustable boot structures 125 and 125′. The mono-fin 100 of the presentinvention has two separated boot structures 125 and 125′ for insertingfeet (not shown) with the toes positioned in front regions (or toesregions 231 and 231′; FIG. 2), of each of the boot structures 125 and125′ and heels positioned at back regions of each of the boot structures125 and 125′. The two boot structures 125 and 125′ are separated in thesense that the foot cavities 123 and 123′ formed by the boot structures125 and 125′ are capable of being moved, as described below.

The boot structures 125 and 125′ preferably have strap features 127 and127′ that are permanently attached to the back portions of the bootstructures 125 and 125′ and helps secure the feet. Alternatively, theboot structures 125 and 125′ include strap features 127 and 127′ thathave release features, such as buckles, clips, snaps and the like.Whether the strap features 127 and 127′ are fixed, adjustable and/orremovable, with the strap features 127 and 127′ in a closed position asshown, the boot structures 125 along with the strap features form twoseparate cavities 123 and 123′ for holding a swimmer's feet.

Both of the boot structures 125 and 125′ are coupled to a mono-finstructure 101 at the front portions 231 and 231′ (FIG. 2) of the each ofthe boot structures 125 and 125′. The mono-fin structure 101 has a flexregion 109 positioned between the front portions 231 and 231′ of each ofthe boot structures 125 and 125′. The flex region 109 allows anglesbetween the boot structures 125 and 125′ and distances between backportions of the boot structures 125 and 125′ and the strap features 127and 127′ to be changed, as indicated by the arrow 103, 103′ and 103″,while swim training. The flex region 109 can be a living hinge, or anelastic stretch region and/or include swivel features, such as pins 111attached through plates and the like. The flex region 109 can be formedform the same or different materials than that of the rest of themono-fin 100, but is preferably softer and more elastic than otherportions or regions of the mono-fin structure 101.

In accordance with a preferred embedment of the invention, the mono-fin200 is monolithic with the boot structures with strap features and 225′,the mono-fin structure 221 with a flex region 209 being make from one ormore molded polymeric materials such as rubber or silicon. The mono-finstructure 221 preferably has a dual protrusion structure with oneprotrusion feature positioned near the front portions 231 and 231′ ofeach boot structures and a valley or V-shaped indentation positioned infront of the flex region 209 and between front portions 231 and 231′ ofthe boot structures.

In operation a swimmer places his or her feet into the cavities 223 and223′ of the boot structure with foot heels in the back portions of theboot structures secured by the strap features 225 and 225′ toes in thefront portions 231 and 231′ of the boot structures. Then the swimmer canpractice kick strokes with both legs simultaneously while changingangles between the boot structures (his or her feet) and distancesbetween back portions of the boot structures (his or her foot heals)through the flex region 209 of the mono-fin structure 221, as describedabove.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of theprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. As such,references herein to specific embodiments and details thereof are notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made inthe embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mono-fin comprising boot structures withseparate cavities for holding feet each attached to a mono-fin structurenear toe regions of the boot structure, wherein the mono-fin structureis flexible, such that angles between the boot structures and distancesbetween the boot structures are changeable while swim training.
 2. Themono-fin of claim 1, wherein the boot structures and mono-fin structureare monolithic.
 3. The mono-fin of claim 1, further comprising strapfeatures for securing the feet within the separate cavities.
 4. Themono-fin of claim 1, where in mono-fin structure has protrusion featurespositioned in front of toe regions of each of the boot structures and avalley or V-shaped indentation positioned between the protrusionfeatures.
 5. A mono-fin comprising: a) boot structures with separatecavities for holding feet with toes positioned in front regions of eachof the boot structures and heels positioned at back regions of each ofthe boot structures; and b) a mono-fin structure coupled to the frontregions of each of the boot structures, with a flex region, such thatangles between the boot structures and distances between back regions ofthe boot structures are changeable while swim training.
 6. The mono-finof claim 5, wherein the boot structures and mon-fin structure aremonolithic.
 7. The mono-fin of claim 5, further comprising strapfeatures for securing the feet within the separate cavities.
 8. Themono-fin of claim 5, where in mono-fin structure has protrusion featurespositioned in front the front regions of the boot structures and avalley or V-shaped indentation positioned in front of the flex region ofthe mono-fin structure.
 9. A mono-fin comprising: a) two separated bootstructures for holding feet with toes positioned in front regions ofeach of the boot structures and heels positioned at back regions of eachof the boot structures; and b) a mono-fin structure coupled to the frontregions of each of the boot structures, wherein the mono-fin structurehas a flex region positioned in a middle region of the mono-finstructure and between the front regions of each of the boot structuressuch that angles between the boot structures and distances between theback regions of the boot structures are changeable while swim training.10. The mono-fin of claim 9, wherein the boot structures and mon-finstructure are monolithic.
 11. The mono-fin of claim 9, furthercomprising strap features for securing the feet within the bootstructures.
 12. The mono-fin of claim 9, where in mono-fin structure hasprotrusion features positioned in front of the front regions of each ofthe boot structures and a valley or V-shaped indentation positioned infrom of the flex region of the mono-fin structure.